In a world obsessed with user identity, Smallstep is betting everything on the machines. They've built the world's first Device Identity Platform, turning every connected device into a first-class citizen of your security perimeter. It's a bold vision executed by a lean, 28-person team.

"Smallstep isn't just selling certificates; they're selling a fundamental shift in how we think about trust in a networked world."

The company's leadership—featuring founder Michael Malone and CRO Geoffrey Leonard—appears focused on sustainable growth rather than VC-fueled blitzscaling. With no public funding rounds listed, they are likely bootstrapped or operating with extreme efficiency. This financial discipline is rare in the cybersecurity space and suggests a product that sells itself.

• Unified platform for device identity and certificates, eliminating manual crypto management.
• Open-source foundation (step-ca) builds trust and community engagement.
• Targeting the 'plumbing' of Zero Trust—often overlooked but critical for scale.
• Lean operation: $2.7M revenue with just 28 employees implies high efficiency.